BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic University football’s season came to a close on Saturday, falling to Middle Tennessee in each team’s regular season finale.
QuotableHagerty Family Head Football Coach Willie Taggart:
“It was a disappointing loss. We didn’t play well enough to win the game. It was disappointing being up and letting them come back and beat us. We saw some of the things we saw all year. Those things can’t happen. We got to get it fixed. I got to get it fixed. And I will get it fixed.”
The BeginningFAU (5-7, 3-5 C-USA) scored on their very first drive, as N’Kosi Perry floated a beautiful deep ball to Je’Quan Burton in stride for a 48-yard score. The Owls doubled the lead early in the second when LaJohntay Wester reeled off a career-long punt return – also totaling 48 yards – and on the very next play, Perry threw for 32 yards to a diving John Mitchell in the end zone.
The Turning PointA Morgan Suarez 26-yard field goal extended it to 17-3 early in the third, but the Blue Raiders (6-6, 4-4 C-USA) cut the deficit in half on their next possession, covering 75 yards in just five plays.
MT drove to 1st-and-goal as the fourth quarter began, but were held to a field goal rather than a potential game-tying TD. The Blue Raiders would however take the lead with 4:21 to go on a six-yard pass to a defensive tackle.
The FinishThe Owls took over on their own 26, and on 4th-and-2, Perry lofted a pass down the left sideline to TJ Chase for 31 yards to move the chains. But on the very next play, a sack and forced fumble was returned the other way 71 yards to cement the win for MT.
Stats and Records
- Perry notched his third 300-yard passing game of the season, 328, on 32-of-49 passing
- Wester fell just one reception short of the FAU single-game record with 14, and totaled 95 yards receiving
- Johnny Ford recorded 158 all-purpose yards (53 rushing, 47 receiving and 58 on kickoff returns)
- A trio of defenders led the way with seven stops: Evan Anderson, Jordan Helm and Korel Smith
- Anderson had two quarterback hits, while Smith forced a fumble, had a pass breakup, and had one of the team’s three sacks (the others by Armani-Eli Adams and Marlon Krakue)
